Request for Proposals – Graphic Designers

Company Overview

About Tarragon Theatre:

Tarragon Theatre is a creation and playwrights’ theatre. We seek to create theatre that investigates artistic form, which may incorporate non-traditional practices and methods of storytelling, and may integrate other disciplines such as movement, music or non-text based performance – all toward creating enriching and provocative theatre experiences for the artist and audience. Our philosophy is to create an environment that fosters artistic discourse within the ecology of Canadian theatre, new play development and dramaturgy practice. We open our doors to celebrate and learn from the
scope of voices that make up our country and the various artistic practices that resonate within them. To that end, Tarragon is equally a hub for creation and development as it is a production company, with the ultimate goal of creating a meaningful experience for our artists to thrive and bridge their
ideas from concept to realization.

Tarragon Theatre is…

• A home for artistic creation and presentation of new work
• A residency for established and emerging artists
• Home to a subscriber base of 1000+ households
• Canada’s neighbourhood theatre
• A year-round hub of opportunity with regular space rentals from the extended theatrical community, including The Toronto Fringe Festival
• An expansive offering with a mission to use art as a catalyst for connection

Tarragon Theatre is a not-for-profit organization. We work on building partnerships with the city and area businesses and government organizations to bring theatregoers from Toronto, and across Canada, access to theatre and art without barriers. Since the arrival of our Artistic Director Mike Payette in early 2021 our values have evolved to embrace Art, Impact and Care. Key guiding principles within this framework include:

• Arts
• Innovation
• Education
• Community
• Accessibility

Job Description

Request for Proposals –  Graphic Designers – Tarragon Theatre 2025/26 Season

Job Posting: Graphic Designer or Graphic Design Teams

Submission Deadline: January 10, 2025

Start Date: Late January / early February 2025

Overview
The purpose of this RFP is to invite proposals from graphic designers or design teams who wish to work with Tarragon Theatre to develop a visual identity based on the curatorial theme for the 2025/26 season and the accompanying collateral required to promote and market the productions throughout the year.

Our 2025/26 season will consist of a full season of activity from mainstage productions to community partnerships, reflecting an evolved vision for the theatre and welcoming new and loyal audiences back to their Tarragon home. We hope to have a graphic designer ready to begin work by the beginning of February 2025.

Requirements

The visual identity and season branding developed by the designer/design team selected under this RFP will need to be flexible enough to be applied to the following platforms and collateral pieces.

These include but may not be limited to:

• Web assets (imagery in various sizes for show pages, seasonal banners, etc)
• Social media assets (Seasonal imagery for posts and stories on various platforms i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, etc.) Plus, editable templates that the team can update as the season progresses.
• Marketing assets for print and digital, including print ready seasonal show ads for various outlets (i.e. The Toronto Star, Next Magazine) and animated digital GIF’s in various sizes for seasonal campaigns on digital platforms (i.e. 350×50 px, 780×90 px, etc.).
• Printed and digital Season Brochure (the content of the guide is provided by Tarragon Theatre and the look and feel is designed by the selected designer with guidance from Tarragon Theatre)
• Image assets for Development campaigns including Giving Tuesday, End of Year campaigns, Fundraising Gala(s) and Fiscal Year End campaigns.

Resources and Deliverables throughout contract

The selected graphic designer or design team will help develop a visual identity and season branding for Tarragon Theatre in collaboration with Tarragon Theatre’s Marketing Director as well as the Artistic Director and Executive Director based on the themes represented in programming. A selection of options should be offered. The designer or design team will create the individual pieces listed above.

The following will be provided by Tarragon Theatre

• Staff support from the Marketing Director
• Collaborative Design Sessions with the Tarragon Theatre creative team who will help guide theprocess with their input and feedback, including brand direction and creative briefing document
• Branding guidelines
• Curatorial theme
• All copy and image content needed for creative

Compensation

The total contract amount is negotiable but will consist of a monthly ongoing retainer competitive with industry standards based on qualifications and quotes from the prospective designer/design team. We are flexible and open to working in a multitude of fashions for this work so please provide a quote for services in your proposal.

Timeline

January 10: Deadline for proposal submission.
January 23: Selection of graphic designer/design team.
January 28: Onboarding and orientation for selected designer/design team. We would also review the Marketing calendar and discuss deadlines and project timelines. Selection of curator and theme provided to the designer.
February: Designer will submit options for review.
March: Assets prepared for the Tarragon (a more specific calendar of deadlines will be provided and negotiated with the selected designer or design team upon selection of candidate).
Late March – Early April: Season Launch
September: Tarragon Theatre 2025/26 season begins.